Not the first time

I have similar feelings concerning the seatbelt situation you experienced (Hammer, “Traffic Ticket Raises Questions,” May 10-17). But, what steams me even more than the nonsense that you experienced, is the information concerning them that is no longer made available.

I used to collect articles from The Indianapolis Star whenever someone died as a result of WEARING seatbelts. You would see quotes from law enforcement folks describing causes of various fatalities. A common one was when a vehicle would roll into a lake or some similar body of water, and children were trapped, because they couldn’t get unbuckled. Another was when a car would catch on fire; again, trapped inside. There were also carjackings, where victims were trapped helplessly.

As I recall, there was danger of the individual states losing some sort of government funding, if they did not comply with the “click it or ticket” crackdowns.

It didn’t matter that some lives were lost as a direct result of seat belts, probably because statistically it was a lesser figure than those saved. I guess they look at it as collateral damage.

You certainly will no longer see a law enforcement or government official quoted in the paper stating a fatality was due to seatbelt compliance.

At the very least some common sense based on individual circumstances should be addressed. Still, the government shouldn’t have the right to make a decision for us that may cost us our lives. But, it wouldn’t be the first time.